Arts and Culture

Paulina Cohen (1859-1941). Leaves. Watercolor. Museum purchase, 86.252.29.

Sitka’s first postmistress forged her own path

The westward expansion of the United States did not just open new lands to eager settlers; it opened new doors of opportunity for women. Nineteenth… Continue reading

Paulina Cohen (1859-1941). Leaves. Watercolor. Museum purchase, 86.252.29.
Sitka’s Wild Language Festival: The art and craft of storytelling

Sitka’s Wild Language Festival: The art and craft of storytelling

A scene from the short film “For the Love of Salmon” flashes on the screen and the audience winces sympathetically. It’s the image of a… Continue reading

Sitka’s Wild Language Festival: The art and craft of storytelling
Left, Mark Zeiger as King Henry II, and right, Ryan Staska as Prince Richard the Lionheart. The Merry Trickers of Haines’ performance of “The Lion in Winter,” by James Goldman, runs two weekends beginning Friday, Nov. 24. Photographs by John Hagen.

First-time play group performs ‘The Lion in Winter’ in Haines

This holiday season, new theatre group The Merry Tricksters of Haines will bring the 1966 historical play “The Lion in Winter” by James Goldman to… Continue reading

Left, Mark Zeiger as King Henry II, and right, Ryan Staska as Prince Richard the Lionheart. The Merry Trickers of Haines’ performance of “The Lion in Winter,” by James Goldman, runs two weekends beginning Friday, Nov. 24. Photographs by John Hagen.
This three blossom basket is made out of a single piece of kelp, hydroid, and three glass beads. Image courtesy of Lisa LeMay Doyon.

Meet three Juneau Public Market artists

This Thanksgiving weekend, 150 vendors representing 36 cities across Alaska and the Pacific Northwest will come for the 35th annual Juneau Public Market. This year… Continue reading

This three blossom basket is made out of a single piece of kelp, hydroid, and three glass beads. Image courtesy of Lisa LeMay Doyon.
Visiting students examine the Haa Aani panel during a visit to Sealaska Heritage. (Courtesy Photo | Brian Wallace via Sealaska Heritage Institute)

SHI to transfer Native values panels to Floyd Dryden

Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) will donate eight large panels depicting ancient Southeast Alaska Native core cultural values to Floyd Dryden Middle School. The panels, which… Continue reading

Visiting students examine the Haa Aani panel during a visit to Sealaska Heritage. (Courtesy Photo | Brian Wallace via Sealaska Heritage Institute)
Megan Duncanson pointing toward bubble feeding humpback whales last summer, when she became determined to buy an island in Meyers Chuck. Photo by Tara Neilson.

Welcome to MAD Island

I hopped out of the skiff and clambered up the steep rocks and then waded through the leafless (but not thorn-less) devil’s club with a… Continue reading

Megan Duncanson pointing toward bubble feeding humpback whales last summer, when she became determined to buy an island in Meyers Chuck. Photo by Tara Neilson.
Michael Wittig Sr. as Tevye at the rehearsal of Latitude 58’s production of “Fiddler on the Roof” at St. Ann’s Hall on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017. (Michael Penn | Capital City Weekly)

‘Fiddler on the Roof’ comes to Juneau, explores timeless themes

Theater at Latitude 58 will be bringing the classic musical “Fiddler on the Roof” to Juneau. “This show has a huge emotional range,” Director Karen… Continue reading

Michael Wittig Sr. as Tevye at the rehearsal of Latitude 58’s production of “Fiddler on the Roof” at St. Ann’s Hall on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017. (Michael Penn | Capital City Weekly)
Robert Hoffman in his studio. (Photo by Sarah O’Leary)

The sketches of Tlingit artist Robert Hoffman

Walk halfway down Katlian St. in Sitka, and you’ll find Robert Hoffman’s light-filled, spacious art studio. Shelves filled with colorful paint tubes line the walls,… Continue reading

Robert Hoffman in his studio. (Photo by Sarah O’Leary)
This street scene in Dyea shows the false front as the small building on the left. From the Paul Sinic Collection, identifier ASL-P75-072. (Photo courtesy of the Alaska Historical Archives)

Dyea’s 120-year old false front tells a story

An unadorned false front of weathered wood, along with the scattered, deteriorating boards behind it, are all that remain of the A. M. Gregg Real… Continue reading

This street scene in Dyea shows the false front as the small building on the left. From the Paul Sinic Collection, identifier ASL-P75-072. (Photo courtesy of the Alaska Historical Archives)
A glance at the Weekly’s book shelf

A glance at the Weekly’s book shelf

We get a lot of books to review here at the Capital City Weekly. We typically focus on books written by Southeast Alaska residents, about… Continue reading

A glance at the Weekly’s book shelf
Chris Neilson holds the author’s canvas shopping bag for her- on the stock up trip when she broke her ankle - and gazes at the totem poles on Shakes Island in Wrangell. Courtesy of Tara Neilson.

Alaska for Real: The fall floathouse stock-up

Unlike most people, I imagine, I have a case of Spam under my bed and cases of tomato sauce, mayonnaise, and canned fruit in my… Continue reading

Chris Neilson holds the author’s canvas shopping bag for her- on the stock up trip when she broke her ankle - and gazes at the totem poles on Shakes Island in Wrangell. Courtesy of Tara Neilson.
This August 1928 photos of Skagway shows the Verbauwhede building on the far right. Courtesy of Karl Gurcke, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. (Candy Waugaman Collection, KLGO B1-215-8802)

Thwarted bandits and 100-year-old stories

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park owns a number of historic buildings within the Skagway Historic District. Most of these buildings have been fully restored… Continue reading

This August 1928 photos of Skagway shows the Verbauwhede building on the far right. Courtesy of Karl Gurcke, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. (Candy Waugaman Collection, KLGO B1-215-8802)
Killer whales in Southeast Alaska’s Frederick Sound. (Photo by Richard Hebhardt)

Juneau man’s passion for African and Alaskan wildlife photos takes him to wild places

On a recent trip to Kenya, Richard Hebhardt sat in a safari vehicle, partially hidden behind a tree in which hung a dead impala. He… Continue reading

Killer whales in Southeast Alaska’s Frederick Sound. (Photo by Richard Hebhardt)
A mushroom along East Glacier Trail. (Photo by Jaeger Dostal)

Writers’ Weir: Limericks of Mushroom Hunters

A musky smell fills the air It’s a cap and stem fanfare With their pungent taste We gather in haste For they’re gone once snow… Continue reading

A mushroom along East Glacier Trail. (Photo by Jaeger Dostal)
Students Lyndi Hall and Alicia Norton lead a group discussion for the 2016 symposium. Photo by Jules Alvarado.

UAS Power & Privilege Symposium returns for a second year

Tuesday, Nov. 7 marks the University of Alaska Southeast’s second Power & Privilege Symposium. The all-day event is meant to spark conversations within the community… Continue reading

Students Lyndi Hall and Alicia Norton lead a group discussion for the 2016 symposium. Photo by Jules Alvarado.
File photo: A humpback whale rolls its pectoral fins out of the water after bubblenet-feeding near North Island. Michael Penn | Juneau Empire

WhaleFest turns focus to scientists

The 21st annual Sitka WhaleFest, hosted by the Sitka Sound Science Center (SSSC), will kick off Nov. 2 for a weekend of activities and learning.… Continue reading

File photo: A humpback whale rolls its pectoral fins out of the water after bubblenet-feeding near North Island. Michael Penn | Juneau Empire
John Barrymore, played by Peter DeLaurier, right, introduces himself to Joe, played by Mike Peterson, left, and Muz, played by Shelley Virginia, during Perseverance Theatre’s production of Joel Bennett’s “Dreaming Glacier Bay” on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2017. (Michael Penn | Capital City Weekly)

Dreaming Glacier Bay: A true Alaskan story with a mystery at its heart

The first thing to say about Perseverance Theatre’s latest offering, “Dreaming Glacier Bay,” a world premiere by Joel Bennett, is that the theatrical experience couldn’t… Continue reading

John Barrymore, played by Peter DeLaurier, right, introduces himself to Joe, played by Mike Peterson, left, and Muz, played by Shelley Virginia, during Perseverance Theatre’s production of Joel Bennett’s “Dreaming Glacier Bay” on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2017. (Michael Penn | Capital City Weekly)
Screen Saver (Mendenhall Tide Flats,)” by Devita Stipek Writer, the Juneau Artist Gallery’s featured artist for November. Courtesy image.

November First Friday features Tsimshian story and more

November’s got some great events scheduled for Juneau’s First Friday. Here’s what people have let us know about. Meet me in Alaska Barnaby Brewing Company… Continue reading

Screen Saver (Mendenhall Tide Flats,)” by Devita Stipek Writer, the Juneau Artist Gallery’s featured artist for November. Courtesy image.
Canadian Pacific Railway Co.’s Princess Sophia. Taken in 1918. From the Winter and Pond Collection, 1893-1943. Identifier ASL-P87-1698. Image courtesy of the Alaska State Library.

Creating an opera for the Princess Sophia

On Oct. 24, 1918, the S.S. Princess Sophia, a coastal passenger liner in the fleet of the Canadian Pacific Railway, grounded on Vanderbilt Reef in… Continue reading

Canadian Pacific Railway Co.’s Princess Sophia. Taken in 1918. From the Winter and Pond Collection, 1893-1943. Identifier ASL-P87-1698. Image courtesy of the Alaska State Library.

Ethel Lund wins award from Alaska Federation of Natives

Ethel Lund of the Tlingit Nation won the Della Keats Healing Hands Award of 2017 from the Alaska Federation of Natives. A press release from… Continue reading